It wasn’t until she heard footsteps that they broke apart. This time she wasn’t the only one who was flushed. Her wedding day, or rather night, could not come soon enough.
His parents entered the parlor followed by two footmen carrying trays. Lady Markham patted the space on one of the small sofas. “Elizabeth, please sit with me. I want to hear all about your plans to change your bedchamber and for the wedding.”
After receiving their cups of tea and plates of cake and tarts, Geoffrey and his father took chairs at a small round burled walnut table.
After she described the fabrics to her ladyship and confessed that, other than the date of the wedding, she knew nothing at all, Lady Markham raised her voice, “Harrington, I understand you have the license, but did you remember to speak to a clergyman?”
His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “I knew there was something I forgot to do. I am an idiot.”
“Yes, well, we can discuss that later. However, I am quite certain both Elizabeth and I will have no trouble agreeing with you.” Elizabeth pressed her lips firmly together to keep a burble of laughter from escaping. She had laughed more today than she had since her mother had died. “My brother Richard,” her ladyship continued, “is in Town for a few days. I’ll send a note round to him asking if he will perform the service.” Lady Markham turned back to Elizabeth. “Please tell me that you will not object to having the service here. If it is nice we can have the service in the garden. One of the benefits of marrying by special license is that one can do what one wishes to do. It is a shame we will not have time to plan a large wedding breakfast, but I do understand the time constraints involved.”
She had been admiring the view of the garden. The flowers were all in bloom and the small fountain was perfectly placed. Like a jewel in a box. A garden wedding sounded lovely.
She wondered what her aunt would say. “Not at all.”
“Wonderful.” Her ladyship smiled broadly. “I shall write to my brother now.”
Putting her words into action, she immediately went to a cherry writing table, took out a piece of pressed paper, dipped a quill into the standish, and began to write.
Once she had finished the missive, she glanced at Elizabeth. “I would like to invite you and your aunt, whom I have not seen in years, to dinner, but I am afraid it is too late in the day.” Lady Markham pulled a face. “I learned never to upset one’s cook. Would she be willing to join us for tea this evening? Naturally, if your brother or father would like to come, they are welcome as well.”
“You’re right.” Elizabeth chuckled. “Our cook would not be happy. I do think my aunt would be delighted to join you for tea.”
“Excellent. I shall write to her as well.”
A few minutes later the letters were set off by a running footman and she and her ladyship settled in for a comfortable coze. Eventually, as all conversations seemed to do these days, the situation on the Continent arose. “Did you hear that our embassy people were denied passports to cross the frontier and had to flee?”
“I heard about it not long ago. I gather they all made it to safety,” Elizabeth replied. “I cannot imagine how dangerous that must have been.”
“I am immensely relieved thatInever had to sneak out of a country,” her ladyship commented.
An hour and a half later, Geoffrey drove Elizabeth home. “I truly like your parents.”
“It’s clear they feel the same about you.” He pressed his lips together and his brow furrowed. “My father wants us to remain in Town for two more days after the ceremony. He also made arrangements for us to pause our journey overnight.” He let out a breath. “I do not know how to tell him we would prefer to leave immediately.”
“I do not believe you can.” She would actually like to spend more time with his mother, but he needed her comfort and support, so she placed her hand on his arm. “You said we have until the middle of June. Naturally, I would like to arrive before then as well, but we have time.”
“Yes, we do.” Glancing at her he grinned. “And we will be able to enjoy the bed again.”
Fortunately, before he could continue with a conversation that was bound to embarrass her—something he had promised not to do except when they were alone and only about one subject—they arrived at her house.
When they reached the door, instead of being told that her father wished to see her immediately upon her return, she was greeted with the news that he was out and would not be back before dinner. However, her aunt was waiting for her in the morning room.
“I shall see you this evening,” Geoffrey said, before placing a kiss in her palm and wrapping her fingers around it.
“I am looking forward to it.” She waited just inside the door as he drove away, then hurried up the stairs to remove her bonnet and gloves before attending to her aunt. Her marriage to Geoffrey would be perfect. How could it not be?
Chapter Twenty-One
A few minutes later, Elizabeth entered the morning room where she found her aunt reading a book. “Good afternoon. How was your day?”
“Good afternoon to you.” Her aunt glanced up from a book. “As soon as I heard your father and brother arguing, I found there were several things I had to do that took me out of the house. I understand you managed to escape as well and had a busy day. From Lady Markham’s letter, it sounds as if all went well. How do you feel about it?”
“Wonderful. Choosing the fabrics and paper for my room and the entry room was easy. Harrington has given me free rein to do as I wish.” Elizabeth perched on the chair closest to her aunt. “His parents arrived and I was made to feel very welcome. Lady Markham is a woman of great physical and mental energy. She said she knows you.”
“She is a few years older than I. Your mother and I were introduced to her when we came out. She was very kind to all the younger ladies. I do remember her as never tiring.”
It surprised Elizabeth that her ladyship was older than her aunt. Lady Markham seemed younger somehow. “Did you accept her invitation to tea?”
